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Travel Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
All paws on deck! Meet Royal Caribbean's 'chief dog officers'
Royal Caribbean International's next ship, Star of the Seas, is getting ever closer to its debut. And one of its most important crew members has sounded her first "woof." Sailor, a 3-month-old golden retriever, will be the ship's resident puppy and the cruise line's second "chief dog officer." The concept debuted with chief dog officer Rover on the Icon of the Seas, the first ship in the Icon class, as a way to bring a different element of joy and fun onboard for guests and crew members, said Kara Wallace, Royal Caribbean International's chief marketing officer. Rover has since become a cruise highlight for many young guests, and the two canines are social media celebrities, thanks in part to an Instagram page that has garnered more than 50,000 followers. Kara Wallace "We build big, iconic, bold ships with features that people can't really even dream up, but we don't let the small things go to waste," Wallace said. "There's always an opportunity to bring depth and richness to the experiences, and this is another way that we did it." Rover, and soon Sailor, don't have meet-and-greets or special schedules to interact with guests, making those interactions spontaneous and organic, Wallace said. She said the dogs are not mascots but crew members that might serve as a pet at sea for the human crew and similarly help young guests who might be missing their companions while on vacation. "That was the primary driver of it," Wallace said, "creating this home away from home." It's cruising cats and dogs Having animals on cruise ships isn't entirely novel but is certainly rare. Bug Naked, a hairless cat, could for years be found onboard Celebrity ships, Royal's sister line, thanks to Capt. Kate McCue, who brought Bug on as a companion in 2017. Like Rover, Bug became a ship celebrity and darling of the crew. Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 allows transatlantic guests to bring pets on as passengers via 24 kennels that are in high demand. But Royal's decision to bring animals onboard for guest and crew enjoyment is likely a first. It's a small offering compared to other projects Royal is investing in simultaneously, like building the tallest waterslides in North America and new private destinations across the world. But that attention to offering small details is a point of pride for Royal, Wallace said. Though Wallace said she thinks it's unlikely that guests will book cruises with Royal just because of Rover or Sailor, they are a differentiator. "I have colleagues here who have young kids, and they came back and all they could talk about was, 'We met Rover,'" she said. "It was an amazing ship that went to all these places, but it was one of the highlights of their cruise. … I think that that's a testament to the power of bringing this warm, family-oriented addition to round out that whole experience." Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley was the one to posit the idea of having a dog onboard, Wallace said. From there, the team explored the possibility with the American Humane Society, which has been its partner in the program ever since. There was plenty of planning involved, from choosing a breed to designing the dogs' accommodations and selecting a designated onboard caretaker. What started as one more way to enhance the guest and crew experience expanded into an opportunity to keep the Icon experience in guests' social media feeds every week, as they watch Sailor grow and Rover travel the world. On their Instagram page (@chiefdogofficers), you'll find a video of Sailor being lovingly cuddled and cooed at during her first visit to Royal Caribbean's corporate office as well as videos comically captioned in typical TikTok and Instagram form (in a recent post, a video of Sailor dozing off is accompanied by the text "How I sleep knowing I have a full-time job secured"). "We were just going to see what happens and see how people responded," Wallace said of the social media account. "I don't know that there was really an expectation in terms of, 'Oh, we're going to grow this to be a million followers.' That's not why we did this, but it's more kind of, 'How can we share Sailor and Rover with the world and let people see what we see?'"
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
A lazy-crazy river and water slide towers: Inside Royal Caribbean's new Mexico destination
A lazy-crazy river and water slide towers: Inside Royal Caribbean's new Mexico destination Show Caption Hide Caption Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, world's biggest cruise ship Here's what guests can expect from Royal Caribbean's highly-anticipated new ship, Icon of the Seas. A jaguar-shaped water slide tower. A lazy river. More than 10 pools totaling the size of four football fields. Royal Caribbean's upcoming private destination, Perfect Day Mexico, will feature all those and more when it debuts in the fall of 2027. The cruise line revealed new details about the second in its Perfect Day Collection on Wednesday, which will build on the success of Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. Kara Wallace, the company's chief marketing officer, said the new addition began with 'knowing that we wanted to give more of our guests more perfect days, and by creating a Perfect Day in Mexico, we would be able to reach so many more guests given the accessibility from the Gulf Coast and the presence that we've built up out of out of that region, including Galveston.' 'For our guests, it will feel familiar and new,' she told USA TODAY ahead of the announcement. Where is Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Mexico? The destination will be on the country's Caribbean coast in Mahahual. Guests will stop there on Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, New Orleans and each of the cruise line's homeports in Florida. Bookings will open in the fall of 2025. What can guests expect? The property's more than 200 acres will be made up of seven distinct neighborhoods. Passengers will arrive at Fiesta Plaza, where they'll be greeted by dancing, live music and drinks like margaritas at the Tipsy Sombrero Bar. Guests will find a combination lazy and crazy river in the all-ages Splash Cove, where they can relax – and float up to bars, with in-tube cupholders for convenience – or opt for waves and rapids. A 100,000-square-foot pool anchors the area, and families can post up in new Splashaway Cabanas near the line's biggest Splashaway Bay with kid-sized water slides. Thrill seekers can head to Loco Waterpark, home to more than 30 water slides. Guests can choose from five slide towers, including the 10-slide Jaguar's Peak, which measures over 170 feet high. Wallace said the cruise line leaned into raft slides in particular, which are in highest demand at CocoCay and on its ships 'because families can experience them together.' Other activities there include hydrolaunch slides that will send riders airborne, a wave pool and more. The adults-only El Hideaway with an in-pool DJ and 20-person Ultimate Party Cabana; the more private Costa Beach Club; and Chill Beach North and South – where guests will find almost two miles of white-sand shoreline – round out the neighborhoods. The line is billing a number of attractions as firsts, such as the longest lazy river and longest coaster water slide in the world, and the tallest water slide tower in North and South America. Visitors can also enjoy a dozen dining options with cuisine inspired by the region, 24 bars, Mariachi performances and shopping from local artisans, according to a news release. Some amenities will come at an extra fee, though pricing information is not yet available. Wallace said the company consults government officials, business leaders and other local stakeholders when developing a project of that kind. 'But we also know what our role is, and we are firmly a vacation company. And our philosophy is to celebrate the destinations that we go to, not try to replicate that,' she said. 'It's that careful balance of knowing what it means to celebrate a culture and really leaning into art, music, food, and that being the hallmarks of the experience that give us the ability to kind of celebrate that culture.' What else should travelers know? Perfect Day Mexico is one of several land-based destinations the company has in the works: Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in the Bahamas in December, where guests who purchase a day pass can enjoy beaches, pools, food and drinks – including from what is billed as the world's largest swim-up bar – and live music. Travelers can join a waitlist to be notified when reservations open. Royal Beach Club Cozumel will follow in 2026. Guests will find beaches and pools, along with activities like kayaking, snorkeling and tequila tastings. The company will also open a destination on the island of Lelepa in Vanuatu, featuring nature trails, dining and more. The 'locally inspired experience for guests in Australia and beyond' will open in early 2027, according to a news release, with additional specifics to follow. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
USA Today
18-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Icon Class in Europe: Royal Caribbean shares first Legend of the Seas itineraries, details
Icon Class in Europe: Royal Caribbean shares first Legend of the Seas itineraries, details Show Caption Hide Caption Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, world's biggest cruise ship Here's what guests can expect from Royal Caribbean's highly-anticipated new ship, Icon of the Seas. Royal Caribbean International's third Icon Class ship, Legend of the Seas, will debut in 2026. The ship will feature over 40 dining options, a water park, an adults-only area, and other attractions similar to its sister ships. Legend of the Seas will also continue the tradition of having a Chief Dog Officer onboard. Royal Caribbean International is bringing its Icon Class to Europe. Legend of the Seas, the third ship in the record-breaking series, will set sail from Barcelona, Spain, in 2026, the cruise line announced Tuesday. While the world's biggest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, debuted in the Caribbean – as will forthcoming sister vessel Star of the Seas – Legend will launch with seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises. 'Icon's been so successful, and we know all of our guests around the world, specifically in Europe, have been waiting and asking, when will they get their opportunity to see and try an Icon class ship,' the line's Chief Marketing Officer Kara Wallace told USA TODAY. Here's what guests can expect. The future of cruises: Are mega-ships here to stay? When will Legend of the Seas debut? The ship will launch in July 2026. What else can guests expect? After its summer cruises in the Mediterranean, the ship will head to the Caribbean. Starting in November 2026, Legend will offer six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While there will be some 'twists' onboard from previous Icon Class ships – to be announced later – Wallace said 'the biggest difference for Legend of the Seas will truly be in the places that it goes.' Following European destinations like Spain, France and Italy, the Caribbean itineraries will include stops in Oranjestad, Aruba; Falmouth, Jamaica; Willemstad, Curacao and more. The ship will also visit the line's private Bahamas destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean, Princess and more: 8 cruise ships debuting in 2025 Like previous Icon Class vessels, the ship will have more than 40 dining and beverage options, a Category 6 water park, an adults-only Hideaway area with a suspended infinity pool and other attractions. 'So, being able to offer more variety in the ports of call, while also having that variety in terms of all of the things that you can do on board, is really what will make this the ultimate family vacation,' Wallace said. Legend shares its name with a previous Royal Caribbean ship that stopped sailing for the line in 2017, partly because the innovations of the Icon Class were informed by those that preceded it. 'So it is an homage to all of the ships that came before it, but also fits really, really nicely with the Icon and Star series of names,' she said. One of those innovations will return for certain: Wallace confirmed that, like Icon and Star, Legend will feature a Chief Dog Officer onboard. 'It wouldn't be an Icon Class if there weren't a Chief Dog Officer and a dog to make the ship feel like a family and a home,' she said. Meet Icon of the Seas' Chief Dog Officer 'She makes such a difference in people's day' When will Legend of the Seas open for bookings? Members of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program can book beginning on Wednesday. Reservations will open to the general public on Thursday. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
